Venetian blind



F. E. LAWSON VENETIAN BLIND Marh 3, 1942.

Original Flled`Jan. 27, 193.8 2 Sheets-Sheet ,'L

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VENETIAN BLIND 4 March 3, 1942.y

original Filed Jan. 21,. 195s 2 sheets-sheet 2 'vlnr /nlllilllulllllllllln Patented Mar. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE this has been omitted for'convenience of illus- The present invention relates to Venetian blinds, and particularly to the mea-ns for raising, lowering, and tilting of the slats of the blind disclosed in the copending application, Serial No.v

l87,114 led January 27, 1938, which issued as United States Letters Patent No. 2,209,276, dated July 23, 1940, of which the present application is a division.

One object of the present invention is to provide improved means for removablysupporting the tilt bar in operative position.

Another object is to provide an improved ladder tape hanger bracket embodying a novel arrangement for supporting the bracket on the tilt bar and for connecting the ladder tape thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, as well as several variations in construction' of detailed parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevationalview of a Venetian blind embodying, the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical fragmentarysectional view taken through the same substantially on line 2 2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, certain of the parts being disclosed in full lines, taken substantially on line 3 3, Fig. 2;.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary Aview having out away portions disclosing certain details of construction, and showing the cooperative relationship of the means for raising and lowering the blind, and means for tilting the slats;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view having cut away portions in section, illustrating the construction of the tilt bar and brackets thereon for connection to the' ladder tapes;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same, taken substantially on line 6 6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlargedfragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating the details of a modified arrangement for permitting removal of the tilt bar from its pivotal supports;

Fig. -8 is a plan view of a modiiied construction of ladder tape supporting bracket mounted on the tilt bar; and

Fig. 9 is asectional view ofthe same, taken substantially on line 9 9, Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 1, the -blind is disclosed as being applied to a window frame, generally indicated at |5'. It will be understood that this frame is provided with the usual sash, and that tration.

vertically disposed at the sidesof the window frame are guide members which are in the form of V shaped channels |S` and |1. These channels are mounted substantially vertical and have their channel openings facing each other. The

guide channels it and Il are each supported by4 a bottom bracket 29 and top bracket 2|.

The bracket 2| at the top end of each guide `channel is substantially U-shaped. One leg 2l of the bracket is secured as by a screw26 to the side of the window frame i5. The other leg 28 lof the U-shaped bracket is disposed inwardly of the guide channel and is utilized as a pivotal sup- 'port for atilt bar 29, as will hereinafter be more fully described. The base portion oi the bracket,

this portion being disposed uppermost, serves as a mounting `for a suitable pulley or pulleys 30 which serve as guide sheaves for the cable connection to the actuating mechanism. V

The tilt bar 29 is of tubular construction,` see Fig. 6, and is pivotally mounted for swinging movement on the innermost legs 28, 28 of the top U-shaped brackets 2|, 2| respectively. This bar, at its right end, see Fig. 5, is provided with a telescopically associated extension 3| which is axially adjustable in the tubular member 29, so that the bar may be adjustably lengthened or shortened. The member 3| is held in adjusted position by a collar 32 arranged to t over this end of the bar, this collar having a set screw 33 arranged to threadedly engage the b ar and abut at its inner end against the member 3|.

The other end of the bar 29 has aiiixed thereto a frusto-conical head 34 adapted to be disposed in correspondingly tapered socket 3 5 formed in a socket member 36 rotatably mounted in the innermost leg 28 of the U-shaped bracket 2| associated with the left guide channel I6, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

With the arrangement just described, it will be apparent that the tilt bar 29 may be easily removed simply by loosening the screw 33, whereupon the member 3| may be retracted from a normal supporting position with its outermost end disposed in a suitable lopening 22 in the right As soon as the bar 29 is rines a shoulder sa. The shoulder as abuts the innermost surface of the inner leg 28 o f the left hand bracket 2|, when the contracted portion 31 is disposed in a suitable opening 39 in the associated bracket plate 28. Secured to the-end of the contracted portion 31 is a gear 40, which is spaced from the associated bracket leg 28 bya spacer member 4|.

Swingably mounted on the supporting leg 28 of thebracket 2| is a lever 42, a suitable pivot 43 being arranged between the ends of the lever. One end of the lever 42 is provided with a segmental gear 44 which meshes with the gear 40. The other end of the lever 42 has an actuating rod 45 connected thereto so as to hang downwardlylin front of the blind arrangement and provide means whereby an operator may manually swin* the lever 42 about its pivot point to cause rotative movements of the tilt bar`29.

In order that the bar 29 may be retained in angularly adjusted posit-ion, the socket member 36 has secured thereto, as by a key 46, a collar 41, see Fig. 2. The collar 41 carries a radially extending arm 48 which is provided at its outermost end with a housing 49, adapted to contain a ball 50, see Fig. 4, which is normally actuated by means of a spring towards the supporting leg 28 of the associated bracket 2|.

The leg 28 of the bracket 2|, as shown, is in the form of a plate and is provided with a plurality of depressions 53 which are spaced apart in the arc of travel of the ball 50, so that as the ball moves over the plateit may be temporarily entered in the respective depressions, corresponding to the adjusted positions of the tilt bar." f

Although a gear connection is disclosed between the lever 42 and the tilt bar, in this instance the gears having a ratio of substantially two to one, it Will be apparent that the lever could be attached at one end directly to the tilt bar.

A pair of brackets, generally indicated at 54, are carried by the .tilt bar -29. These brackets are respectively connected to ladder tapes 55 of usual construction arranged to support a plural ity of slats 56 in the usual manner.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, each of these brackets comprises a pair of arms 51 and 58 which are respectively apertured intermediate their ends as shown at 59 to receive the bar 29 therethrough. The arm 58 is secured tightly to the bar 29 in any suitable manner, whereas the arm 51 is supported for sliding movement on the bar 29.

Each end of the arm 58 carries a pin 60 which extends at right angles to the arm and has one end iixedly secured thereto. The arm 51 is apertured as shown at. 6| to receive the free end of the pin 80, this end of the pin 60 being provided with a circumferential groove 62 which is adapted to receive a spring 63 therein for latching the pin against removal from the arm 51.

The uppermost ends of the ladder tapes 55, 55 are respectively secured to the pins 69 lying on opposite sides of the bar 29 by means of metal ears or clips 64 which are secured to the ladder tape as by rivets 65 and dene ltubular portions at the end of the ladder tape adapted to receive the pin 60 therethrough and form a pivotal connection to the tape. With this arrangement, it is a very easy matter to disconnect the ladder tapes from their supporting brackets, this being accomplished simply by releasing the ends of the pins 6|) which are engaged by the springs 63, whereupon the arms 51 and 58 may relatively be placement, permit their being readily tilted, and l moved away from each other to free the ends of the pins and permit the ears 64 to be axially removed from the pins.

Although I have shown a4 particular manner of latching the endsof the pins relative to the arms 51, it will be appreciated that other types of latches or other means may be utilized for this purpose, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

It will be observed that the center lines of the pins 60 and the center line of the bar 29 lie in the same plane. This arrangement enables maximum tilting of the slats and does not cause shortening or lengthening of one side of the ladder tape when the slats are tilted to maximum tilt position.

' Each end of the slats is provided with a centrally disposed pointed end projection which is adapted to extend into the associated V-shaped4 guide channel, as shown in Fig. 3. These end projections retain the slats against lateral dismaintain the slats in vertical alignment during raising and lowering movements.

Raising and lowering of the slats is accomplished by means of a lift bar, generally indicated at 66, which is disposed below the lowermost slat of the blind. The projecting ends ol the lift bar 8B are tapered similar to the projecting portions at the ends of the slats so as to fit the associated guide channel. 66, at its projecting end, is provided with an inclined downwardly opening groove 10 which terminates at its uppermost end adjacent the upper surface of the bar and forms a passageway for a flexible connection 1|, in this instance, a flexible cable. This end of the cable 1l is anchored at the bottom of the tilt bar as bya screw 12. Where the cable passes around the upper end of th'e groove at the upper surface of the tilt bar, the cable is retained by means of a clip as shown at 13.

With the foregoing arrangement, although the I end of thecable 1| is secured at the bottom of the lift bar, the pulling forces are in effect applied at the top of the bar so that the weight of the bar will tend to maintain the bar in vertical position. The cables at each end `of the lift bar are carried through the guide chanels and Aover the pulleys 30 where they are connected to the mechanism for raising and lowering of the slats,

whichv is clearly disclosed in the aforesaid co'- f pending application.

Referring to Fig. 7, an alternative arrangement of releasable tilt bar construction is shown.

Instead of utilizing a collar and set screw for securing the telescoping extension 3|a in adjusted position, a spring |02 is disposed in the hollow bar 29a with one end abutting the associated end of theA member 3|a and its other end abutting a stop |03 which may be in the form of a rivet extending through the bar. In order to limit longitudinal movements of the member 3|, this member is provided with a stop pin |04 which is disposed for movement longitudinally of a slot |05 provided in the wall of the bar 29a. With this arrangement, the removal of the tilt bar is facilitated, as it is only necessary to retract the member 3|a against the pressure of the spring in order to withdraw the outer end of the member 3|a from its pivotal support.

Figs. 8 and 9 disclose an alternative arrangement of ladder tape supporting brackets on the tilt bar. In this arrangement, the bracket is con- The lift barstructed from a at plate |06 which is stamped or otherwise formed with struck up lateral portions l01 and |08 and an intermediate struck down portion |09. The lateral portions |01 .and i! extend over the top of the bar, whereas the intermediate portion |09 extends under the -bar and securely holds the plate in position on the bar. With this construction, the plate projects on either side o! the bar in a horizontal plane passing through the center line of the bar. At each end of the plate aligned struck up lugs Ill) and III are provided which are adapted to receive thereover grommets Il! placed in the end marginsvof the ladder tape. The tape ends are held against removal from the lugs H0 and lil by means of a'clamp H3 which is arranged to extend over the extreme end portions o! theladder tapes and have its ends bent around and under the plate.

Since the material forming the brackets ls of relatively small thickness and since the points of engagement of the ladder tapes with the ends of the brackets are disposed in the plane of the line of the tilting bar, there will be no appreciable shortening or-lengthening of the ladder tape when the tilt bar is tilted. v

It is, of course, to be understood that although I have described indetail sevral Vembodiments of my invention, the invention is notto be thus limited but only insofar as dened by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A Venetian blind assembly comprising a tilt v bar, a plurality of slats supported from the tilt bar, means for pivotally supporting the bar including a frusto-conical head rigidly secured to one end of said bar, a socket member forming part o! said supporting means and having a frusto-conical interior wall frictionally embracing said frusto-conicalhead, said bar having telescoped portions, whereby the bar may be short' ened to removeit from said means.

2. A Venetian blind assembly comprising an elongate bar having an end extension supported for axial movements, a spring normally maintaining said end in extended position, means pivotally supporting said bar at said extension, means pivotally supporting said bar at its other end including a truste-conical head rigidly secured to said other end of said bar, a socket member forming part of said supporting means for said second end and having a truste-conical interior wall frictionally embracing said frustoconical head, said bar being removable from the supporting means when the extension is retracted against the pressure of said spring, and a -plurality of slats supported from said bar.l

3. In a Venetian blind, a tilt bar, a plurality of slats supported from said bar, said slats being tiltable in response to the tilting movements of said bar, and means for tilting said bar including a swingable lever having a connection with said bar including a irusto-conical head rigidly secured to one end of the bar and a irusto-conical socket operatively associated with said lever and frictionally embracing said head, releasable means for readily aording disengagement of said head from said socket. and detent means for releasably retaining the bar in adjusted tilted position.

4. In a' device of the character described, a vertically disposed plate, a tilt bar having one end pivoted in said plate, a plurality of slats supported from 'said bartiltable vinresponse to the` tilting movements of said bar, a spring pressed member carried by said bar having an end movable over said plate, spaced dwell points on said plate for said'end corresponding to positions of adjustment of said bar, an actuating lever pivoted on said plate for swinging movement, and

a gear connection between said lever and said bar, whereby swinging movements of said lever` are transmitted to said'bar.

-5. In a device of thevcharacter described, a`

plurality o! slats, a ladder tape for supporting said slats, a bar disposed for tilting incident to variations of the angularity of the slat's in cooperation with the laddertape, a bracket carried by said bar having a projection thereon. a grommet in the upper end portion of the ladder tape. and means retaining the tape connected to said bracket with the grommet over said projection.

6. In a device of the character described, a plurality of slats, a ladder tape for supporting said slats,a bar disposedfor tilting incident to variations of the angularityof the slats in Vaco-- operation with the ladder tape, a bracket carried by said bar including Ia pin, a metallic clip secured to the upper end of the ladder tape adapted to be disposedover said pin, and means removably retaining said clip on said pin.

7. VIn a Venetian blind assembly, a plurality of slats, a ladder tape ,for supporting said slats, a bar disposed for tilting'incident to variations of the angularity of the slats in cooperation with `the ladder tape a pair of varms* extending out- -wardly from said bar, one oi said arms 'being i upper end from said pin, said tape end being removable from said pin when the arms are relatively movedto positions wherein the arm connected to the free end of the pin isdisengaged.

8. In a Venetian blind, a plurality of slats. a ladder tape for supporting said slats including a main tape at each of the opposite sides o! the slats, a rockable bar for tilting said slats, a pair of arms respectively projecting laterally from the opposite sides of said bar, pins at the outer ends of said arms, and loops on the ends of said main tapes through which said pins extend, the axes of said pins and said rock shaft being disposedl in a single straight lin'e parallel to the planes of the slats supported by said ladder tape. K

. FRED E. LAWSON. 

